Kerala Blasters coach Eelco Schattorie has claimed that club are trying to do their best and to achieve the best they can despite injuries affecting the team. The Blasters play Bengaluru FC next at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Saturday with both sides looking to get their seasons back on track.

The ISL action returns after the two-week international break and the break could not heal Kerala Blasters long list of injuries. It will be a tough task for the Eelco Schattorie's men when they face champions Bengaluru FC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Saturday. The Yellow Brigade has four points in as many games and Blaster's head coach Eelco Schattorie claimed that Kerala Blasters are trying to do their best, to achieve the best they can.

“First of all, the most important thing is that as a club and as players, we are trying to do our best and achieve the best we can. Unfortunately, on two levels, we are suffering. In defence, all my main centre-backs are injured and in midfield, Mario Arques, who has to control the game for us, is also injured. So that makes it very difficult. But I am also a very realistic person,” claimed Schattorie reported the ISL.

"That means, whatever we have in hand, we are going to work with and give it our all. The players that we have at hand, I’m 100% sure that they want to give it their all. Last game, we played against Odisha where we had (injury) issues and we still got a result. Against Bengaluru, we are going to do the same thing with the players that we have at hand. In the end, the team is not just 11 players. There are a lot of players. When there are injuries, they need to step up.”

Kerala Blasters have signed defender Vlatko Drobarov from Macedonia with Jairo Rodriguez still injured. Schattorie went on to admit that Rodriguez arrived with an injury and he's has a long recovery before he can make his comeback. The Kerala coach also praised the Brazilian's character and believes that he won't be able to make an impact this season.

“It’s very simple. Jairo arrived basically with an injury. On the first day, he came, it didn’t right away show. He played his first game in Dubai where we had a training camp. I give only praise for his character in the way he moved on from pre-season to now. The hamstring injury can be solved but the meniscus (tear) is a problem. We are trying to solve the problem and hopefully, it will be solved. He is still with Kerala Blasters, but we are trying to solve that problem,” The Dutch coach added.

Schattorie then praised fan favourite Sahal Abdul Samad who was present at the press conference and went on to admit that he has never seen an Indian midfielder who has "Sahal’s intuitive, technical and creative qualities."

“I don’t think I have seen in India, a midfielder who has Sahal’s intuitive, technical and creative qualities. I’m the first one who will acknowledge his quality, but I’m also the first one to say ‘you need little time to grow in certain areas’. At all times, I will support him and for me, it’s like being a second father to get him to the highest possible level. I think on the first day I met Sahal, I told him I will make him the best midfielder in India. But it does not mean it just happens overnight or just giving him a chance because supporters are shouting for him to play.” the coach concluded.